Kim Grant to succeed Caro Newling as Chair of Paines Plough

PAINES Plough has announced that Kim Grant will succeed Caro Newling as Chair of the Board of Trustees, following three years of heading up the company’s Finance, Audit and Risk Sub-committee.

Former Director of Finance, Administration and Operations at the Lyric Hammersmith and now a consultant working across the theatre sector, Grant said:

“I am honoured to follow in Caro’s footsteps. She has been an inspirational Chair during a game-changing time in the company’s life and I am particularly thrilled that she will remain involved, continuing to support Paines Plough’s growth through its inaugural patrons’ initiative. On behalf of all Trustees I’d like to take this opportunity to thank her for everything she has done during her three terms.”

Caro Newling’s nine transformative years as Chair have included securing funding for the company’s expansion and the launch of Paine’s Plough’s pioneering ROUNDABOUT pop-up, plug-and-play venue, which has brought national acclaim to a new generation of playwrights like Elinor Cook, Georgia Christou, Vinay Patel and Charley Miles.

A three-year review also highlights other recent achievements such as the World Tour and HBO screening of Every Brilliant Thing.

In June this year, Caro Newling was awarded an OBE for services to theatre. She is currently co-producing The Ferryman, The Lehman Trilogy and Shrek The Musical on tour. She is an honorary fellow of Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and former President (now Vice) of the Society of London Theatre. She said:

“I have huge admiration for the Paines Plough team and I am proud of every one of their achievements prior to and during my tenure. I am delighted that Kim is taking up the reigns and equally happy to remain involved for the future launch of a Patrons scheme – for which I shall be the first in line to sign up!”

Former Director of Communications at the Royal College of Art, Chris Millard, remains Vice Chair whilst the board is further bolstered by the recent appointments of Ankur Bahl (McKinsey & Co), Carolyn Saunders (Pinsent Masons) and Sarah Mansell (formerly Campaign Director at Chichester Festival Theatre).